Weird Picture Books

Judy Blume recently shilled for two picture books -- within the pages of the NY Times.

One, "Bark, George," is about marching to the beat of one's own drum. A little dog, George, keeps meowing, so his mother takes him to the vet. There, George coughs up a cat. He won't start barking, however; he quacks like a duck. (And he coughs up a duck.) He moos like a cow (and then he coughs up a cow). This builds to a twist, which is deeply satisfying if you've ever tried to control a small child's behavior.

Another book, "Mother Bruce," talks about life's uncertainty. A grumpy gourmand bear (Bruce) acquires goose eggs; he plans to make a feast. But the eggs crack open, and the little geese "imprint" on the bear. Bruce never becomes a sterling parent, but he does eventually purchase a time-share in Miami so that he can assist with seasonal migration. There, a little turtle becomes strongly attached to one particular goose--so the goose gets a taste of his own medicine.

Thumbs up for both of these books.

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